Overthrow preventer in addressing machines



y 1929' A. 1.. SCHULTZ OVERTHROW PREVENTER IN ADDRESSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l mov I attoz 1 4 May 1929' A. L. SCHULTZ OVERTHRON PREVENTER IN ADDRESSING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 29, 1928 \d .i fr Q a W W w@w\\\\\\\\\\ M 4 I w I' 8 m W 3 fnw QWW W4 O I W A. Q 'Mllllllll;

- Patented Ma 14, 1929.

1,713,097 PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST L. SCHULTZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO.THE AMERICAN MULTI- GBAIH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

OVERTHROW PREVENTER IN ADDRESSING- MACHINES.

Application filed February 29, 1928. Serial No. 257,835.

In the operation of .addressing machines having individual plates fed by a reciprocating carrier, there is a tendency of the plate to be overfed by momentum. Various snubbing devices have been resorted to to prevent such overfeeding, but are not entirely satisfactory. l have discoveredthat the desired result may be obtained more simply and accurately by allowing the plate to overfeed and then automatically restoring it to position. I have devised a very simple mechanism whereby the plate is restoredby theaction of the reciprocating carrier in coming to its final position, whereby the plate is automatically positioned in the exact location desired.

The mechanism by which'l accomplish the above mentioned result comprises preferably an intermediately pivoted lever, one arm of which is abutted by the reciprocating frame and shoved forwardly thereby and the other arm of which engages the overfcd plate and shoves it rearwardly into proper position. An addressing machine embodying this char- 5 acteristic is illustrated in the drawings hereof sufiiciently to show the restoring mechanism, and is hereinafter more fully explained.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan partly broken away of an addressing machine 0 equipped with my restoring device; Fig. 2

is a. longitudinal'vertica1 section of the machine through-the: channel in which the reciprocating frame travels, as' indicated by the line 22 on Fig. 1, this view showing the printing plate in restored position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the used' plate being discharged on the next stroke of the reciprocating frame; Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary side elevation showing a second plate- 40 fed by the frame and restored thereby to accurate position just as the frame has shoved the used plate clear of the machine proper; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section'on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 4. p

I shall first describe the particular addressing machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, al-

though it is to be understood my invention is not limited thereto. As shown in these figures, 10 indicates the bed having a horizontal channel 11 formed therein and leading from the right hand end to the left hand end. Over this channel is a magazine 20 for address plates and at the extreme left of the ma- 55 chine is a receptacle 21 to receive the used plates. Theplaten by which the plates are printed is indicated at 22 being mounted on the underside of an impressing arm 23 shown as pivoted to the bed at 24. Over the channel and covering the top of the bed is a suitable top plate 29, having an opening through which the platen may act on an address plate resting at the time on an anvil block 15in the channel 11. A suitable inking ribbon overlies the address plate in printingposition, such ribbon being periodic-ally fedby means not shown from one of the spools 31 to the other.

An extension 25 of the impression arm 23 is connected by a link 26 with a bell crank 27 which is connected by a link 28 with an operating slide, hereinafter described, for feeding the plates. As the impression arm rises by the retractionof its spring 85, following an impression, the slide is moved toward the left a distance sufiicicntly to feed the bottommost plate in the magazine 20 to an intermediate position; to feed a plate in the intermediate position to the printing position and to feed the plate from the printing position to the discharge receptacle.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawing the address plates comprise inverted trough shaped members A, Fig. 5, carrying embossed printing strips a, being thus made in accordance with Patent N 0. 1,628,630 of my assignce, The American Multigraph Company. The reciprocating frame or operating slide adaptedto feed such plates comprises two parallel bars 40 standing on edge in the channel 11 and rigidly connected to a cross block 42. The bars are in such position that they come directly beneath the curled over edges a of the address plate. The bars may rest on rollers 44 carried by the bed. The link 28 heretofore mentioned is pivoted to the block 42, whereby the bars are reciprocated.

The bars 40 have an abrupt shoulder 45 which is adapted to engage the bottommost plate in the magazine as the bars move toward the left and advanccsuch plate, while an elevated portion 46 of the bars engaging beneath the stack supports the rest of the plates in the magazine. The shoulder 45 advances the engaged plate into an intermediate position as indicated at A in Fig. 2.- That is the end of the struho of the frame, and it then returns to the righthand position, as shown in Fig. 2.

On thenextstroke of the reciprocating frame, a pair of pawls 50 carried by the two bars 40 engage the intermediate plate A and shove it into printing position as indicated at A, while the shoulder 45 is bringing another plate into the intermediate position. The frame then returns to the right.

On the third stroke of the reciprocating frame, a pair of pawls 51 carried thereby engage the plate A from which the impr'ession has just been made, and shove it toward the right and discharge it into the receptacle 21. At the same time the pawl 50 advances the intermediate plate into printing position and the shoulder a5 advances a plate romthe magazine to the intermediate posi- -fore act to pivot the pawls to the bars, al-

though the pawls are directly above the bars.

Now, with such a construction as described, there is a tendency of the light address plate to be overfed by momentumfand the amount of such overfeed varies with the force with which the impression arm returns'to normal position. If it is returned comparatively easily the overfeed is slight, whereas if theoperator allows it to fly back by its spring pressure the overfeed may be considerable, and this variation in the overfeed has been one of the troublesome factors in controlling it.

I now come to my invention designed to remedy the difiiculty mentioned. The mechanism of this invention comprises a bale 6O pivoted. at 61 to the sides of the anvil block 15 and having its intermediate portion free in a recess 16 in such block. The portion of the bale arms below the pivots are directly in .line with a pair of inwardly projecting pins 57 carried by the bars 40, while the pair of arms above the pivots are in line with the side portions of the address plate. The bale tends to hang vertically and is so located that when vertical its right hand edgeis in the same vertical plane as the forward end of a properly positioned address plate in printing po-- sition.

It results from the above construction that if the plate, advanced to printing position, is overfed by momentum, it engages the upper portions of the arms of the bale 60 and tips it into the more or less inclined position shown in Fig. 3. Then as the reciprocating frame completes its stroke the pins 57 engage the lower portions of the bale arms and swing them forwardly so that the upper arms move backwardly, shoving the backward plate against the pawls 50, as shown in Fig. 4. This accurately positions the plate which is to do the printing.

When the reciprocating slide returns toward the right, the printing plate is left in position with the bale hanging vertically. Now, on the next stroke of the reciprocating slide, the forward pawls 51 engage the used plate to shove it out of the machine, and in such movement of the plate the forward edge simply swings the bale 60 over into an approximately horizontal position, so that the plate can travel over the top of the halo until it has cleared it. As soon as the plates clear the bale, gravity returns the bale to its normal vertical position.

It will be seen that the restoring hale does not in any manner interfere with the free movement of the plate to or from printing position, and allows it to be overfed by momentum various amounts as determined by the operation of the machine, but before the plate is left in printing position automatically retracts it as much as may be necessary to bring it into accurate position. The device is simple in construction and experience has prov'en it to be very efiicient in use.

I claim:

1. In an addressing machine, the combination with means for feeding ah address plate, of a. restoring device which may be displaced by an overfed plate. and mechanism for automatically moving the restoring device to re- 2. In an addressing machine, the combination of'means for feeding an address plate adapted to overfced it, and a restoring device actuated by the feeding mechanism to restore the overfed plate to accurate position.

3. In an addressing machine, thecombination, with a reciprocating mechanism adapted to feed address plates, of a restoring device adapted to act on an overfed plate, and means whereby said mechanism operates the restoring device to restore the plate to normal position.

4. In an addressing machine, the combination, with a reciprocating slide adapted to feed address plates, of a restoring device adapted to be engaged by an ovorfed plate and thereby displaced from normal position, and means whereby the slide engages the restoring device to restore the plate to normal position.

" tract the overfed plate to accurate, position.

5. In an addressing machine, the combination of a guideway for address plates, mechanism for feeding them, and a pivoted restorin g device adapted to be displaced by an overfed plate and actuated by the feeding mecha nism to restore such plate.

6. In an addressing machine, the combioverfed plate frame may engage address lates successively and feed them along the c annel, an intermediately pivoted lever, one arm of which is adapted to be engaged by anoverfed plate, and means on the reciprocating frame adapt ed to engage the other arm of the lever to swing it in the opposite direction to restore I the plate.

8. .In an addressing machine, the combination of a guideway for plates, a depending intermediately pivoted lever adapted to assume a vertical position and having its upper arm adapted to engage an address plate, means for feeding the address .plates having provision for engaging the lower arm of a lever whereby forward movement of the lower arm causing rearward movement of the upper arm restores an overfed plate.

9. In an addressing machine, the combination with a channel along which address plates may be fed, of a bale having a pair of upright arms, each intermediately pivoted to the frame, the upper ends of the arms standing in the path ofan advancing plate, and mechanism for advancing the plate having provision for engaging the halo beneath its pivot to restore it after it has been tipped by an overfed plate.

10. In an addressing machine, the combination of plate feeding mechanism, a lever adapted to be abutted by an overfed plate, and means adapted to sving the lever in the opposite direction and thereby restore the overfed plate, said lever being free to be swung into a position where the plate may travel freely beyond it at a time when the feeding mechanism is discharging such plate.

11. In an addressing machine, the combination of a guideway along which plates may be fed, an intermediately pivoted lever, the upper arm of which is adapted to be abutted by an overfed plate, whereby the lever is tipped from normal position, a reciprocating feeding mechanism adapted at the end of its stroke to engage the lower arm of the lever and thereby swing it back into normal position and restore the overfed plate, said lever being free to swing into an idle position where the plate may travel freely across the top of the lever at a time when the feeding mechanism leaves the lever free to swing.

'12. In an addressing machine, the combination of a reciprocatin slide, pawls carried by said slide to engage the address plates and feed them forwardly on successive strokes of the slide, an intermediately pivoted lever with the upper ends of its arms standing in the path of an address plateand being adapted to be engaged bysuch plate if it is overfed, and means operated by the reciprocating slide to engage said lever below its pivot to restore the address plate as the slide comes to its extreme forward position, such restoration causing the upper end of the lever to shove back the foremost plate substantially against the feeding pawl therefor.

13. In an addressing machine, the combination of a frame, a channel therein, a reciprocatin g slide operating in the channel, pawls carried by said slide to engage the plates and feed them forwardly on successive strokes of the slide, tending arms, each. of which is intermediately pivoted to theframe, the upper ends of the arms standing in the path of a plate and being adapted to-be engaged b the plate if it is overfed, shoulders carrie by the reciprocating bars and adapted to engage the bale arms below the pivots to restore the bale after the slide comes to its extreme forward position, such-restoration causingthe upper end of the bale to shove back the foremost plate sub stantially against the feeding pawl therefor.

14. In an addressing machine, the combination of a frame, a channel therein, a magazine for address plates above the channel, a reciprocating frame comprising a pair of rigidly connected bars operating in the channel, pawls carried by said bars to engage the plates and feed them forwardly on successive strokes of the bars, an operating arm, a linkage connection between it and the reciprocating frame, a lever intermediately pivoted to the frame, the upper ends of the lever standing in the path of a plate and being adapted to be engaged by the plate if it is overfed, a shoulder carried by one of the reciprocating bars and adapted to engage the lever below the pivot to restore the lever after the slide comes to its extreme forward position, such restoration causing the upper end of the lever to shove back the foremost plate substantially against the feeding pawl therefor.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

AUGUST L. SCHULTZ.

a bale having two upwardly ex- 

